1
as in surrendered
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
the boy reluctantly relinquished the illegal fireworks to the police officer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in resigned
to give up (as a position of authority) formally
the retiring CEO relinquished his position to the company's vice president with very mixed feelings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of relinquished
Turn back the tape just a few weeks ago, to when the Five Stripes relinquished a 1-0 advantage in the final stretch to lose at home 2-1.
—
Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 10 May 2026
More than 75 other nurses with Operation Nightingale school diplomas relinquished their Florida credentials, the health department said in its April 22 email in response to the Sentinel’s questions.
—Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
The defending world champions — who have the Lakers in the blender at present — were built largely through that trade, in which the Clippers relinquished their first-round pick in 2022, 2024, 2026 plus pick swap rights in 2023 and 2025.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
The Pistons took the lead in the first quarter and never relinquished it, surviving a second-half charge by the Cavs.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 May 2026
The Royals took a 7-6 lead and never relinquished it.
—Jaylon Thompson
may 2, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
In April, two babies were relinquished at Connecticut hospitals under the state’s Safe Havens Act, according to the state Department of Children and Families.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
The dealer, who purchased it at some point from an Italian dealer, voluntarily relinquished the urn to the FBI, who gave it back to the Italian Ministry of Culture.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
This suggests that Bronze Age individuals relinquished pieces of their wealth as a sacred offering.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 10 May 2026
More than 75 other nurses with Operation Nightingale school diplomas relinquished their Florida credentials, the health department said in its April 22 email in response to the Sentinel’s questions.
—Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
The defending world champions — who have the Lakers in the blender at present — were built largely through that trade, in which the Clippers relinquished their first-round pick in 2022, 2024, 2026 plus pick swap rights in 2023 and 2025.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
The Pistons took the lead in the first quarter and never relinquished it, surviving a second-half charge by the Cavs.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 May 2026
The Royals took a 7-6 lead and never relinquished it.
—Jaylon Thompson
may 2, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
In April, two babies were relinquished at Connecticut hospitals under the state’s Safe Havens Act, according to the state Department of Children and Families.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
The dealer, who purchased it at some point from an Italian dealer, voluntarily relinquished the urn to the FBI, who gave it back to the Italian Ministry of Culture.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
This suggests that Bronze Age individuals relinquished pieces of their wealth as a sacred offering.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relinquished
Verb
-
And surrendered two goals or fewer in five of them.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
-
He was replaced by Mackenzie Blackwood after Wedgewood surrendered three goals on a dozen shots.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The kind of storm leaving Maxey resigned to the very idea of defeat before the halftime break.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
One of them was Varga, who resigned from parliament in disgrace.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Depicting the Norman conquest of England 1100 years ago, the Bayeux tapestry is an astonishing 230 feet long and, according to the British Museum, features 58 scenes, each rendered in colored wool embroidery on flax.—
Anne Doran,
ARTnews.com,
14 May 2026
-
The pieces are emblazoned with the Mschf and Vicenza signs rendered in sunflower yellow, as well as logos of partners and sponsors, including Diesel.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Congress has abdicated its power to an oligarchy of billionaires.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
13 May 2026
-
Congress has already abdicated its duty.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Webb delivered the big blow with runners on second and third and no outs in the seventh, ripping a two-run double to the gap in left-center to give the Celtics the lead.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
Coplen, Clement and Honsberger each delivered RBI singles to increase the lead to 10-0.—
Alex Kushel,
Sun Sentinel,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images Japan renounced war under Article 9 of its post-World War II pacifist constitution.—
Sam Meredith,Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
President Ahmed al-Sharaa is a one-time al-Qaeda commander who renounced the ideology before taking power.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For example, Congress has routinely failed to pass an annual budget on time and instead relies on continuing resolutions, has ceded its war powers responsibilities and has conducted insufficient oversight of the executive branch.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Leavitt quickly ceded the mic to Colin Jost‘s Pete Hegseth.—
William Earl,
Variety,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relinquished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relinquished. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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